Scandal at Newark Liberty Airport

Security at Newark Liberty airport has been under heavy scrutiny ever since one of the four planes involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks departed from the airport on the morning of the 11th. Well, this isn't going to sit well with those who hope that security has actually improved since that horrific day.

The assistant security director in charge of screening at Newark Liberty International Airport has resigned, federal officials confirmed yesterday, amid a scandal involving the leaking of test questions to candidates seeking high-level security jobs at the airport.

Gerard A. Grandinetti, a veteran of military and government service who was the No. 3 official in the airport's 1,100-member screener detail, resigned Friday night, according to Mark Hatfield Jr., the director of security for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration at Newark.

Hatfield said, "He chose to resign for personal reasons," declining to elaborate.

But TSA officials at the airport said Grandinetti was under investigation as part of an inquiry into the distribution of test questions to one or more applicants in advance of key job interviews. The officials spoke anonymously because of strict federal privacy rules for TSA employees.

A representative at the TSA's press office said the agency would not comment on Grandinetti's de parture until tomorrow.

Grandinetti, 53, sent an e-mail message Friday night to TSA staff at the airport, bidding them goodbye, according to an individual who read the note. In the e-mail, Grandinetti acknowledged his departure "might not be the right time," but "for me the sunshine is calling, and my personal life needs a lot of attention."

He added: "I know I leave with everything in order, so on that note, I am very happy. Take care. I am sure I will see everyone sooner or later on a golf course near you."

The e-mail said the resignation was effective immediately.

The departure follows days of turmoil at the airport over the leaked test material. The scandal came to light Monday when a TSA official told The Star-Ledger that some of the questions contained in an exam to be given to candidates seeking seven open screener manager jobs had been leaked to some applicants in advance.

After the Star Ledger got their hands on the test and questioned the TSA manager at the airport about the test, the exam was canceled. Is this run of the mill corruption and graft, or is this problem more deep-seated than that? Well, given the problems with airport security that includes the revolving door assignment of security officials (some of whom have then been demoted or shifted because they can't be fired outright under the rules), I believe that the problems are more deep-seated and a reevaluation of airport security protocols that begin with the hiring process and extend through screening must be undertaken.